For all of its length — two-time defending BIIF Division II champion HPA rotated four post players who were all at least 6 foot, 4 inches — it was guard play that put Ka Makani over the top against the Division I Vikings.

Kellen Gillins’ free throw gave HPA the lead for good at 26-25 early in the third quarter, and then Camero and Gecas combined to score their team’s next 26 points as it kept Hilo at arm’s length. Ka Makani converted on enough of their free throws during a 23-point fourth-quarter.

“(Camero) was a real problem for us,” Vallero said. “We put somebody in his face, but he always seemed to get open.”

Often during that stretch, the guard duo came up with what Wawner likes to refer to as championship possessions. Camero found Gecas for a driving layup and then hit one of his three 3-pointers and followed that up by making two free throws during a 7-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters that gave HPA its largest lead of the game, 40-31.

“When things got down to it, we ran our plays, set good screens and we put the ball in the bucket,” Camero said.

HPA got just enough offensively from its inside game. Nicky Palleschi, 6-4, added five points for Ka Makani, and 6-7 Evaldas Vegertas and 6-4 David Ovbagbedia each had had four. Vegertas and Gecas are boarding students from Lithuania, while Ovbagbedia is from Nigeria.

“It was hard in the beginning, but now we’re staring to gel,” Camero said. “The team chemistry is really high right now. Everyone is loving it.”

HPA 11 14 13 23 — 61

Hilo 11 9 11 18 —53

Konawaena 71, Pahoa 61: Brandon Awa scored 15 points, Jonah Bredeson added 13 and Kevin Medeiros had 11 as the Wildcats went on the road to win their road opener.

Konawaena survived a 38-point uprising from the Daggers’ Tolby Saito.

Kona 12 22 19 18 —71

Pahoa 9 18 18 16 —61

Kohala 76, Keaau 55: Mikala Jordan led five Cowboys in double figures with 22 points as Kohala opened with an easy road win.

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